The 'Killinascully' and 'Garage' star was in Rosslare Europort facing a journey across two stretches of water and several countries to get to Berlin where he's shooting a new film, 'Anonymous'.

"I was supposed to fly on Sunday to Berlin," he told the Irish Independent. "I live in Berlin but then I rescheduled for Wednesday to Dusseldorf. That's not going to happen, they cancelled it this morning."

Ahead of him was a journey of at least 24 hours. "I'm getting the boat to Pembroke tonight and then the bus to London. Then it's the Eurostar at 2pm tomorrow and into Brussels around 5.30pm. After that it's a train back to Berlin," he said

Coming the other way were ferryloads of passengers from Pembroke and Fishguard into Rosslare, via the Stena and Irish Ferries services.

A gang of brainiacs from NUI Maynooth had a protracted journey back from Mandeburg in Germany where they were taking part in last week's German Open Robot Soccer Competition.

"We were meant to be flying back to Dublin on Monday," Richard Middleton explained. "That didn't happen. We were looking at ferries then, but no.''

A 10-hour drive led to the group linking up with the cross-channel ferry to Portsmouth and, after an overland journey through the UK, crossing to Rosslare.

Veteran singer Donovan was due to fly from England back to his adopted home in Cork but had to get the ferry instead.

"I was only in England but I certainly sympathise with so many people who had to go through real trauma," he said

Ruth Groves travelled from Bristol. "I was supposed to fly back on Sunday," she said. "But the ferry was fine."

Collecting her was Alan Winters who drove from Killimer in Co Galway.

Tom and Elizabeth O'Brien from Galway were in Weston-Super-Mare for a short break and were supposed to return at the weekend. "We didn't know when Ryanair were going to fly," Tom said. "We were forced to come a very long way and now we have to go on two trains tomorrow to get home."

As they disembarked, mingling with tourists, Elizabeth remarked: "If we had the energy we'd get down and kiss the ground."